Inflatable swim appliance

ABSTRACT

The present invention deals with a flotation device in the form of a swim appliance which is provided with a plurality of inflatable bladder sections, which are so arranged to each other that the chest of the wearer is substantially covered by a first bladder section which is V-shaped near the neck of the wearer and is also provided with bladder extension sections which are located above the shoulders of the wearer and project upwardly therefrom and further with extension bladder sections branching out from the chest bladder section below the armpits and projecting above the shoulders at the dorsal part of the wearer. These extension sections are in communication with the interior of the chest bladder section and the extension bladder sections are shaped in a predetermined fashion in order to stabilize the wearer&#39;&#39;s swimming actions. Strap means are employed which are made of rubber and anchored at the lowest part of the chest bladder section, encircling the rear part of the neck of the wearer and lead from the anchoring locations to the dorsal part of the person having the device applied to his body.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Georges A. Barnier Pare Alexandra, Bd. Alexandre Ill, 06 Cannes, France [2]] Appl. No. 854,858 [22] Filed Sept. 3, 1969 [45] Patented Dec. 28, 1971 [32] Priority Sept. 4, 1968 33 France [31 9406 AM [54] INFLATABLE SWIM APPLIANCE Assistant Examiner- Paul E. Sauberer Attorneys-John .l. McGlew and Alfred E. Page ABSTRACT: The present invention deals with a flotation device in the form of a swim appliance which is provided with a plurality of inflatable bladder sections. which are so arranged to each other that thechest of the wearer is substantially covered by a first bladder section which is V-shaped near the neck of the wearer and is also provided with bladder extension sections which are located above the shoulders of the wearer and project upwardly therefrom and further with extension bladder sections branching out from the chest bladder section below the armpits and projecting above the shoulders at the dorsal part of the wearer. These extension sections are in communication with the interior of the chest bladder section and the extension bladder sections are shaped in a predetermined fashion in order to stabilize the wearer's swimming actions. Strap means are employed which are made of rubber and anchored at the lowest part of the chest bladder section, encircling the rear part of the neck of the wearer and lead from the anchoring locations to the dorsal part of the person having the device applied to his body.

PATENTEUnEmm 33291886 INVENTORY Gimse: awe BERN/ER INFLATABLE swrM APPLIANCE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Heretofore known devices of the type to which this invention refers were either flotation and thermoprotecting apparel of greatly complicated assembly or buoyancy rings which did not afford sufi'icient safeguard to a person to carry out swim movements. The present invention tends to avoid these and other disadvantages in the manufacturing and sale of flotation devices and has as one of its main objects to provide means for stabilizing the actions of the person using the same so that the appliance will be stabilized in particular during breastswimming strokes, etc. Other objects of the invention will ensue from the specification and drawings hereinafter set forth.

The invention is embodied in a specific swimming appliance as shown in the drawing.

FIG. 1 is a front view of the appliance as worn by a person using the same.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the device seen in FIG. 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, there is shown in FIG. 1 a swim appliance embodying the invention. This appliance consists primarily of a first chest covering bladder section P which has a V-shaped neckline and has a lower boundary line which runs substantially straight across the front portion of the body. At the lower part of the first bladder section P there are arranged anchoring locations in the form of loopor eye-shaped elements ll through which are threaded strap means which run in front of the inflatable fist bladder section upwardly to encircle the rear neckline of the wearer while the lower extensions of the strap means run along the dorsal part of the wearers body and below extension bladder sections A, A and L, L as hereinafter further described. From the first bladder section upwardly and above the shoulders of the wearer extend second and third bladder sections L, L which each terminates in rounded end. Fourth and fifth bladder sections A, A extend from the first bladder section P below the armpits of the wearer and rearwardly thereof, the lower boundary line of said fourth and fifth bladder sections being in alignment with the lower boundary line of the first bladder section as more clearly seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. The fourth and fifth bladder sections are fin-shaped and terminate in upper ends which are located when in inflated condition above the aforesaid rounded ends of the second and third bladder sections L, L all as clearly shown in FIG. 2. Thus, the arms of the wearer are free to move and act during practicing swim operations while the second, third and fourth and fifth bladder sections contribute to the stabilization of the swim appliance when the person, wearing the same, lies on his chest and floats on the water surface.

Plug 12 is employable for filling all bladder sections with air or gaseous medium as these sections are hollow and freely communicate with each other.

While specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the inventive principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

lclaim:

l. A swim appliance which consists of several inflatable bladder sections, which are in communication with each other; comprising a first bladder section for application to the chest of the wearer and having a V-shaped outline near the upper front part of the wearers neck, second and third bladder sections substantially of identical configuration and extending from the upper parts of said first bladder section along said V-shaped outline and above the shoulders of the wearer, respectively, said second and third bladder sections terminating in free ends, fourth and fifth bladder sections branching from the lower part of said first bladder section and extending below the armpits of the wearer and terminating in free and preshaped ends spaced from and located above the.

respective freeends of said second and third bladder sections to aid in stabilizing the wearers swimming action when moving his arms and when buoyed while lying on the first bladder section in contact with the surface of the water, and respective rubber strap means encircling the rear part of the wearers neck and anchored on locations on the lower parts of said first bladder section and extending across the dorsal body part of the wearer for retaining said first bladder section in position on the wearer's chest and inflated condition of all said bladder sections.

2. An appliance according to claim 1, wherein said second and third bladder sections terminate in rounded ends, whereas said fourth and fifth bladder sections are of substantially finshaped configuration whose upper ends are located above the rounded ends of said second and third bladder sections.

3. An appliance according to claim 1, wherein said anchoring locations form eye-shaped elements through which said strap means are threaded, respectively.

4. An appliance according to claim 1, wherein the lower boundary of said first chest bladder section is substantially aligned with the lower boundaries of said fourth and fifth bladder sections.

* I I. t 

1. A swim appliance which consists of several inflatable bladder sections, which are in communication with each other; comprising a first bladder section for application to the chest of the wearer and having a V-shaped outline near the upper front part of the wearer''s neck, second and third bladder sections substantially of identical configuration and extending from the upper parts of said first bladder section along said V-shaped outline and above the shoulders of the wearer, respectively, said second and third bladder sections terminating in free ends, fourth and fifth bladder sections branching from the lower part of said first bladder section and extending below the armpits of the wearer and terminating in free and preshaped ends spaced from and located above the respective free ends of said second and third bladder sections to aid in stabilizing the wearer''s swimming action when moving his arms and when buoyed while lying on the first bladder section in contact with the surface of the water, and respective rubber strap means encircling the rear part of the wearer''s neck and anchored on locations on the lower parts of said first bladder section and extending across the dorsal body part of the wearer for retaining said first bladder section in position on the wearer''s chest and inflated condition of all said bladder sections.
 2. An appliance according to claim 1, wherein said second and third bladder sections terminate in rounded ends, whereas said fourth and fifth bladder sections are of substantially fin-shaped configuration whose upper ends are located above the rounded ends of said second and third bladder sections.
 3. An appliance according to claim 1, wherein said anchoring locations form eye-shaped elements through which said strap means are threaded, respectively.
 4. An appliance according to claim 1, wherein the lower boundary of said first chest bladder section is substantially aligned with the lower boundaries of said fourth and fifth bladder sections. 